Hamas monitored political activity, online posts, and apparently even love lives. Palestinians were stuck between an Israeli blockade and a repressive security force.

The Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has for years overseen a secret police force in Gaza that conducted surveillance on everyday Palestinians and built files on young people, journalists and those who questioned the government, according to intelligence officials and a trove of internal documents reviewed by The New York Times.

The unit, known as the General Security Service, relied on a network of Gaza informants, some of whom reported their own neighbors to the police. People landed in security files for attending protests or publicly criticizing Hamas. In some cases, the records suggest that the authorities followed people to determine if they were carrying on romantic relationships outside marriage.

Hamas has long run an oppressive system of governance in Gaza, and many Palestinians there know that security officials watch them closely. But a 62-slide presentation on the activities of the General Security Service, delivered only weeks before the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, reveals the degree to which the largely unknown unit penetrated the lives of Palestinians.

. . .

Everyday Gazans were stuck — behind the wall of Israel’s crippling blockade and under the thumb and constant watch of a security force. That dilemma continues today, with the added threat of Israeli ground troops and airstrikes.

MBFC
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  • theotherverion@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
    14·
    6 months ago

    Yes, because the narrative is that palestinians elected hamas 18 years ago, it cannot be their fault Hamas has the power.

    But even today polls show hamas has a big support basis.

    • SphereofWreckening@ttrpg.networkEnglish
      4·
      6 months ago

      Popularity =/= Democratically elected.

      And of course Hamas is seen as popular. Anyone would be popular when the opposition (Israel) is indiscriminately bombing civilian targets en masses. Or even massacring them just for running up to collect food aid. Food that Palestinians in Gaza are utterly desperate for due to famine like conditions in the region caused by Israel.

      Aid that Israel has been purposely and continuously shutting off from the civilian population.

      • theotherverion@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        16·
        6 months ago

        And again rant about Israel and how it is its fault that they elected a terrorist organization… It just couldn’t be Palestinians fault!

        • SphereofWreckening@ttrpg.networkEnglish
          4·
          6 months ago

          The fact that you don’t even care about the Palestinian apartheid, and now genocide, speaks volumes enough about you honestly. Have fun defending genocide.

            • SphereofWreckening@ttrpg.networkEnglish
              2·
              6 months ago

              Hey look, you’re being a purposely-obtuse ass again. I’d say you’re just this stupid, but since you’re all over these comments you clearly have an agenda to push. Luckily no one here is buying your bullshit lmao

    • Madison420@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      6 months ago

      Polls that illustrate their own bias. You’ve yet to offer a source that isn’t self admitted opinion.

        • Madison420@lemmy.worldEnglish
          41·
          6 months ago

          You should read your links. This one is the same flaws source as the first, notice the founders name.

          Ed: and they tell you the margin of error is huge because of war (go figure) and specifically state it was taken in non combat zones, ie zones held by Israel… This isn’t hard maybe, your point is dumb move on.

          Despite the large representative sample, the margin of error for this poll is +/-4. The increase in the margin of error is due to the lack of precision regarding the number of residents who stayed in their homes, or in shelters, in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip which we did not sample.

          • theotherverion@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
            11·
            6 months ago

            Of course each poll that does not favor Palestinians is biased and incorrect. Ideal of a palestinian man cannot be challenged.

            Edit: You are talking about bias yet you don’t know what side it it shifted towards.

            • Madison420@lemmy.worldEnglish
              11·
              6 months ago

              All of them? Dunno about that, but the ones that specifically state they are inaccurate and biased you should probably take their word for it.

              Ed: also yes I do in fact I mentioned it. Ie. The oil was at isreali safe zones, how likely do you think expressing “fuck Israel” sentiment is going to be when everyone with a gun around you is Israeli.